Everyday Culture, Everyday Wonder
The Baekje Kingdom, located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, was one of the most active kingdoms in cultural exchange with Japan. Baekje introduced not only scholarship and religion but also art and music. Among these, music and dance had a strong influence on Japanese culture, which is why they are still found in Japan’s historical records today.
Baekje and Gigak (Masked Performance)
In the Japanese chronicle Nihon Shoki, there is a record that a Baekje man named Mimaji taught gigak in Japan.
Gigak was a form of performance that combined masks, storytelling, music, and dance. It is very similar to Korea’s traditional mask dance, known as talnori.
In fact, scholars note that gigak resembles the Yangju Byeolsandae mask play from Korea in both style and structure. This shows that Baekje’s performing arts traveled from China to Korea, and then were introduced to Japan.
Songs Recorded in Goryeosa
The Korean history book Goryeosa (History of Goryeo) includes several songs that originated in Baekje.
These songs tell very human stories:
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A wife waiting for her husband who went to war.
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Villagers singing with relief after building a fortress.
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A woman lamenting her capture by bandits.
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A woman refusing the king’s request for her company.
Among them, the most famous is Jeongeupsa.
Cover of Goryeosa (History of Goryeo), the official chronicle of the Goryeo Dynasty.
The Origin of Jeongeupsa
Jeongeup is a town in today’s North Jeolla Province. According to legend, long ago, a man from Jeongeup had to leave his wife to go on a long trading journey. His wife missed him deeply and climbed a rock every day, singing a song that wished for his safe return. That song became known as Jeongeupsa.
The background story of Jeongeupsa is recorded in Goryeosa, and its lyrics are preserved in the Akhak Gwebeom, a music book compiled during the reign of King Sejong in the 15th century.
Because of this, Jeongeupsa is regarded as the only surviving song from Baekje.
Lyrics of Jeongeupsa (translated)
Moon, rise high, rise high,
Shine the road so my dear one can return.
Ohgiya, Ogamdori,
Ah, Darungdiri.
Is he wandering in the market?
Is he stepping on foreign lands?
Ohgiya, Ogamdori.
Where shall he find a place to rest?
The road he travels must be dark and hard.
Ohgiya, Ogamdori,
Ah, Darungdiri.
Why Jeongeupsa Matters
Baekje’s music and dance were more than entertainment. They carried the emotions, hopes, and everyday lives of the people. Jeongeupsa, in particular, is a moving song of love and longing—a wife’s heartfelt prayer for her husband’s safe return.
Even today, Jeongeupsa reminds us of the emotional depth and artistic sensitivity of Korea’s cultural heritage.
Through stories like Jeongeupsa, we can see how Korea’s history and culture influenced not only its own people but also its neighbors, leaving a lasting legacy across East Asia.
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